Jon Lieber

The Top 10 "Royals that Got Away"

mscott@kspr.com

The Kansas City Royals have gone through some lean years since winning the World Series in 1985.  A big reason for those struggles was a series of personnel decisions that sent Royal favorites on to future stardom.  Here's a look at the Top 10 "Royals...

Tags: Carlos Beltran, Raul Ibanez, Jermaine Dye, World Series, San Francisco Giants

Dempster, Ramirez lead Cubs past Nats

Tribune staff reporter

It started six months ago in Mesa, Ariz., when Ryan Dempster stood in the parking lot of Fitch Park before the opening day of spring training and calmly declared the Cubs were going to win the World Series. Dempster wasn't afraid of jinxing the team with...

Tags: Ryan Theriot, Ryan Dempster, World Series, Mark Derosa, Contracts

Soriano's drop leads to extra-inning loss for Cubs

Tribune reporter

PITTSBURGH — Earth to Alfonso Soriano, come in please. Earth to Soriano … Earth to Soriano … report in, please. About the only thing that didn't happen to the Cubs over the weekend at PNC Park was an alien abduction, and the...

Tags: Piracy, Ryan Theriot, Chicago Cubs, Crime, Law and Justice, Crimes

Reds rip Cubs with 7 homers

Tribune reporter

Cubs at home? Check, they had the best home record in the major leagues. Wind blowing out at Wrigley Field? Check, Cubs were 9-2 and had out-homered the opposition 20-13 and outscored them 81-55. Ted Lilly on the mound? Check, he hadn't lost at home...

Tags: Kosuke Fukudome, Milwaukee Brewers, Derrek Lee, Ted Lilly, Lou Piniella

Still stellar, Cubs' Dempster picks up 14th win

Tribune staff reporter

After Ryan Dempster earned his 14th victory by beating Florida 9-2 on Sunday, manager Lou Piniella said the Cubs knew coming into spring training that he'd make the starting rotation. So much for the three-way competition for two spots among Dempster,...

Tags: Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis, Miami Marlins, Lou Piniella, Aramis Ramirez

Paul Sullivan's Cubs mailbag

Tags: Philadelphia Phillies, Jeff Samardzija, World Series, Mark Derosa, Crime, Law and Justice

Tags: Ryan Dempster, Geovany Soto, Jason Marquis, Kosuke Fukudome, Kerry Wood

Late defensive errors sink Cubs

Tribune reporter

When Rich Hill hit his head on a drain pipe as he entered the postgame interview room Friday at Wrigley Field, it served as a perfect metaphor for his team's bumpy start. Defensive lapses cost the Cubs again in a 4-3 loss to the Astros, leaving them 1-...

Tags: Ryan Theriot, Geovany Soto, Ryan Dempster, Kosuke Fukudome, Mark Derosa

Lilly struggles as Cubs lose to Reds

Tribune reporter

The theory that the Cubs are in dire straits if their two left-handed starters can't turn their seasons around is one few in the organization will speak of openly. Ted Lilly and Rich Hill combined for 26 victories last year but have struggled to...

Tags: Ken Griffey Jr., National League, Henry Blanco, Kosuke Fukudome, Mike Fontenot

Improved Hill pitches Cubs to win

Tribune reporter

One problem solved, maybe. The second is still a work in progress. Rich Hill became the first Cubs left-hander to win a game this season, a day after Ted Lilly failed for the fourth time, but he needed a bullpen boost to get there. "That's a start in...

Tags: Geovany Soto, Crime, Law and Justice, Kosuke Fukudome, Mark Derosa, Rich Hill

Tags: Sean Marshall, Chicago Tribune, Ryan Dempster, Jason Marquis, Kosuke Fukudome

Chicago Cubs beat Pittsburgh Pirates in 12 innings

Tribune staff reporter

Cubs manager Lou Piniella joked about "taking a dip in the Allegheny River" before Monday's game against the Pirates on a sunny afternoon at PNC Park. But after watching his team blow a seven-run lead only to come back for a wild 10-8, 12-inning win in a...

Tags: Ryan Theriot, Mark Derosa, Crime, Law and Justice, Pies and Tarts, Derrek Lee